Compare towns
Richmond vs Hartford vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Richmond | Hartford | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Lowest |
10,736 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 120% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #5 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Hartford School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.